Therapeutic exercise device for legs

Abstract

A device for promoting health and rehabilitation through exercise by way of providing motion to one's legs. The device comprises a frame, with a motor secured to the frame. An axle extends outwardly from the frame to either side and is powered by the motor for rotation about a horizontal axis. The axle drives a pair of crank arms to the free ends of which are secured pedals. The pedals are adjustable so that their axes of rotation are adjustable with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle. Straps or the like associated with each of the pedals to releasably secure a user's foot to the pedal. A flexible leg support strap extends from a portion of the frame. In operation, an end of the strap is wrapped around a leg just behind the knee. The strap is of a length and is positioned so that the leg is free to move as the pedal rotates with one's foot strapped to the pedal while sufficient force is provided by the strap on the leg to prevent unwanted lateral movement of the leg. The device of the present invention in use provides a wobble-like motion to the legs, during operation, to further enhance joint and muscle mobility in the user's legs.

What I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A device for exercising passive legs of a person seated remotely with respect to the device, the device comprising: (a) a frame;   (b) a motor secured to the frame;   (c) an axle extending outwardly from the frame to either side, the axle powered by the motor for rotation about a horizontal axis;   (d) a pair of crank arms secured to the axle on either side, the crank arms to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the axle;   (e) adjustment means secured to the free end of each of the crank arms;   (f) a pair of pedals, each secured to a different one of the adjustment means to rotate about its own pedal axis;   (g) means associated with each of the pedals to releasably secure a user's foot to a portion of the pedal; and   (h) elastic leg support strap means extending from a portion of the frame, in operation an end of the strap means to be wrapped around a leg just behind the knee and the strap means being of a length and positioned so that a leg is free to move as the pedal means rotates with one's foot strapped to the pedal means while sufficient force is provided by the strap on the leg to prevent unwanted lateral movement of the leg,   said adjustment means operable so as to permit selection of a predetermined angle which the pedal axis of rotation makes with respect to the axis of rotation of the angle so that the pedal axis will automatically follow a conical path thereby to permit varying the orientation of the foot and leg of a user as they move on the foot pedal during operation of the device.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the elastic leg support strap means is laterally slidable within a portion of the frame, opposite ends of the flexible leg support means extending from the frame at spaced locations, each end of the strap means to be wrapped around a corresponding leg of the user just behind the knee, the strap means being of a length and positioned so that each leg is free to move as the pedal rotates with one's foot strapped to the pedal means while sufficient force is provided by the strap on that leg to prevent unwanted lateral movement. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2 wherein a pair of stop means is provided on portions of the strap means exterior to the frame to limit the lateral sliding movement of the strap means, in either direction, with respect to the frame. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3 wherein rollers are provided within the frame on which the strap means is positioned for lateral sliding movement, and wherein the pair of stop means comprises dowels secured to the strap means at appropriate locations so as to abut against the frame to prevent further lateral movement of the strap means in a given direction after the strap means has moved laterally in that direction a predetermined amount. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the pair of stop means comprises dowels secured to the elastic leg support strap means after the strap means has been extended so that the dowels bear against the frame at spaced locations, thereby placing the strap means under a predetermined amount of the tension within the frame, whereby the amount of restoring forces achieved by the strap means during operation, when a user's knee is at the top of its travel, is predetermined. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the end of each crank arm opposite to that which is secured to the axle is secured to a clevis to which the foot pedal is secured to rotate about its axis relative thereto, the clevis secured to said end of the crank arm so as to be adjustably positionable therewith to adjustably orient the axis of rotation of the foot pedal, when the crank arm is vertically oriented, at varying angles vertically with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle. 
     
     
       7. A device according to claim wherein the crank arm further comprises an adjustment means to effectively lengthen or shorten the length of the crank arm. 
     
     
       8. A device according to claim 6 wherein means are associated with each crank arm and foot pedal to adjustably orient the foot pedal axis of rotation when the crank arm is vertically oriented, at varying angles horizontally with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle. 
     
     
       9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the foot pedal further comprises a foot plate to supportably receive a user's foot. 
     
     
       10. A device according to claim 9 wherein strap means are associated with the foot plate to releasably secure a user's foot on the foot plate during operation of the device. 
     
     
       11. A device according to claim 1 further provided with means to adjust the vertical height of the portion of the frame from which the flexible leg support strap means extends, with respect to other portions of the frame. 
     
     
       12. A device according to claim 6 wherein the clevis is constructed so as to provide a plurality of specific predetermined increments of adjustment for the angle of the axis of rotation of the corresponding foot pedal with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle.